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Agricultural Bank envisaged for North West...

Premier Supra Mahumapelo wants the North West Province to have its own Agricultural Bank in order to enable farmers in the Province to access the necessary funding and insurance for their operations.

Premier Mahupamelo revealed this in Lichtenburg during a Provincial Dialogue with representatives from organised agriculture and the banking industry yesterday.

“We will look at the best models in the world to help our farmers finance their business. When we have our own bank, you will see that the banking institutions will react differently because currently they are a monopoly,” said Premier Mahumapelo who was accompanied by MEC Manketsi Tlhape of the provincial department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development (READ) and the Mayor of Ditsobotla Local Municipality Cllr Lesego Holele.

The dialogue was organised by READ with a view to explore ways by which to enable farmers to continue with their operations, following the debilitating drought experienced across the province.

Derek Matthars of Grain SA welcomed the dialogue as a step in the right direction.

“We are glad that for the first time we are able to work together in finding solution because there is only one way to find a solution that will fit everybody, and that is doing it together. It is going to take a lot of innovation to assist famers going forward,” said Matthars.

Kgosi Jeff Molete of Bakolobeng and Deputy Chairperson of North West House of Traditional Leaders Kgosi Mushi Mabe were amongst those who participated in the dialogue.